What Grace Care Does
We sponsor disadvantaged and vulnerable children so they can get a high-quality education. Secondary school students attend other high schools in Kampala but Grace Care is building a secondary school at Nakawuka village, Wakiso district, and when operational secondary students will attend this school as well.
34 children are currently sponsored by Australians, including children at primary and secondary school and two students in teacher training. We’re aiming for 200! Some children only have sponsors for their primary school studies so we are looking for others.
Uganda’s Educational Challenges
Almost 50% of Uganda is under 15 and lives in relative financial privation. The government does its best to pay for the education of the large number of school-age children but some classes have 100 children. Many children cannot even access a government school because they need a school uniform, shoes, pen and paper, and many families simply cannot afford them.
Secondary education is worse with only 1 in 10 primary students getting to secondary school. Compounding the problem is the high orphan population (5 million-plus) due to HIV/AIDS, which is projected to increase over time. Poor living conditions, limited medical care and infrastructure, under-equipped hospital, and high maternal mortality produce even more.
Grace Care Reaching Goals
Grace Care, a locally-run project has built and operates two primary schools, one in Rakai, a very poor area in SW Uganda with 80 boarders and 270 days children, and the other – Life Care Academy – in Kyamula slum in Kampala with 220 day students. The primary schools were set up so that orphans and other disadvantaged children (one-parent families or sick or disabled parents) could access education and they have succeeded in their goal. The children are lovingly and well cared for and educational standards are among the best in their school districts. Many more children could attend if we can sponsor more children.
Moving Ahead to Make a Life
Less than 20% of the first 210 graduates from these primary schools have been able to access secondary education. They graduate too young to access any jobs in the formal economy, and unless they can find regular work with caring relatives (often farm-related work in Rakai district or a street stall in Kampala), they are extremely vulnerable to depression, involvement in criminal activities, and to both physical and sexual abuse. Girls are particularly at risk, as they often end up working as a live-in maid/nanny putting them in a very vulnerable position.
Thus the need for continued sponsorship of children to continue their secondary education. Some children will continue on to Tertiary education and a degree or diploma. If there are no alternative means to earn a living to continue their studies, a sponsor willing to continue supporting them can join hands with us to fund them to an appropriate level on a case by case basis.
Care to Help?
You can help to transform this situation by a once-up or regular donation to Grace Care using the donate button below. Bless you.